TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — One of the Tampa Bay area’s most popular stretches of sand has reopened following a month-long dune replacement project.
Sunset Beach on Treasure Island was one of the areas hit hard by beach erosion created by Hurricane Idalia.
Officially, Sunset Beach was supposed to reopen over the weekend, but city workers started to remove the chains, cones and barricades from local parking lots Friday afternoon.
“I guess they just re-open in Sunset Beach Area here, because every time I come it's filled with cars. And today, it wasn't,” said Michael Keenan, not sure if this was his lucky day. “I had to ask you if it was OK, because I was like I don't know what's going on.”
Keenan was among the first to get back on the popular stretch of sand, which had been closed to the public for about a month as 200 trucks a day dumped the protective barrier along the shoreline.
“It feels good. It's nice. And I'm glad that they're fixing it up. After the hurricane it kind of sucks. Because, you know, the beach isn't as nice after the hurricane,” he said.
Most people say they appreciate the work that has been done – $6 million worth of protective sand dunes and grasses – paid for with tourism taxes.
“If it serves all of us in the way that we hope it does then I say it is worth it,” said neighbor Margaret Drew.
Still, a warning from folks like Cathy and Daryl Simon visiting from Cincinnati. They were also here just five months earlier. And what a difference.
“Yeah, we were here in May and there was a lot more beach. A lot more beach,” Cathy Simon said. “There was a lot of people on there enjoying it. And it will be great when it all gets back to the way it used to be.”
That could take a while. The dunes are back, but the beach, swallowed by Hurricane Idalia, is still all but gone.
“Well, I would probably tell them not to come. Because if there's too many people, I think that would be more home to it that good. You know?” Cathy Simon said. “Too many people out there could destroy the work that they've already done.”
Still, having the area back open is good news for local businesses like Caddy’s and nearby Ka Tiki. Both are popular spots with locals and visitors.
“It definitely affected us. We get a lot of walk up business off of that beach. So, it being closer a month if it a little dent in us,” said Ka Tiki General Manager Paul Wille. “But we're happy that they're giving us our protection back for the long run. That's going to be a good deal.”